Exposure therapy (ET) is a highly effective treatment for anxiety-related disorders but is underutilized and not widely familiar to the public. This study aimed to examine the impact of a values-oriented rationale for ET on perceptions of ET. One hundred and seventy-one participants with elevated anxiety were randomly assigned to either a values-oriented cognitive-behavioral rationale (values) or a standard cognitive-behavioral rationale (standard) for ET. Participants’ changes in anticipated willingness to tolerate distress, treatment adherence, and perceived treatment credibility were examined. We found that both rationales led to increases in willingness and credibility; however, no significant differences were found between conditions. Exploratory analyses suggested that participants with stronger, more consistent values rated ET as more credible when assigned to the standard condition. These findings suggest that brief rationales can positively influence initial perceptions of ET, though value-based language may not be more effective than traditional approaches.
Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) were established in 2018 to address gaps in mental health support for children and young people (CYP). Information on the characteristics of CYP accessing this support, alongside evidence regarding the outcomes associated with low-intensity cognitive behavioral therapy (LI-CBT) interventions delivered by MHSTs, remains limited.This study examined the demographic characteristics and outcomes of 240 CYP who accessed LI-CBT through MHSTs between January 2021 and March 2025. “Reliable improvement” rates were determined using Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale scores and the reliable change index. “Recovery” rates were calculated for CYP scoring above the clinical threshold preintervention ( n = 96).Overall, 69% of CYP demonstrated reliable improvement ( N = 240). In all, 58% of those above the clinical threshold preintervention recovered. Demographics were broadly reflective of the community.MHSTs-delivered LI-CBT interventions are associated with favorable outcomes for mild levels of need and support recovery in CYP with moderate to severe difficulties.
This study examined the relative contributions of various facets of internalized racism (IR) to anxious arousal and depressive symptoms. A racially diverse sample of 205 U.S.-based racial/ethnic minority adults ( M age = 27.96, 60% female, 55.6% Black/African American, 18.5% Asian, 14.6% multiracial, and 11.3% other) completed validated measures of IR, anxiety, and depression. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to assess the unique effects of four IR facets across affective and cognitive dimensions: emotional reactions (affective) with group devaluation, adoption of dominant cultural standards, and patterns of thinking (cognitive), above and beyond sociodemographic information. Global IR was significantly and positively associated with both anxiety and depression, with affective facets being significantly associated with anxiety, whereas the cognitive process of group devaluation was significantly associated with both anxiety and depressive symptomatology. These findings suggest that specific cognitive and affective facets may be implicated in the development of internalizing symptoms among minoritized individuals, particularly shame-based emotional responses and intragroup devaluation. Clinical implications suggest that cognitive restructuring and acceptance-based approaches may help address maladaptive beliefs and emotions tied to racial identity. This study extends the existing literature by exploring how cognitive and affective forms of IR may differentially relate to anxious and depressive presentations, providing direction for refining theoretical models of race-related stress and psychopathology.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, and alcohol use disorders commonly co-occur among veterans, resulting in greater impairment in the quality of life and other health outcomes than single disorders. Despite the availability of evidence-based psychotherapies, including integrated treatments addressing both anxiety/PTSD and alcohol use, treating comorbid disorders remains challenging. Leveraging providers' skills through modular, adjunctive materials focused on alcohol use might improve their ability to provide transdiagnostic care. Veterans (N = 6) with alcohol use disorder and anxiety and/or PTSD were recruited for an open pilot trial of Bridging the Gap, an adjunctive cognitive-behavioral manual used with the Unified Protocol. Pre- and posttreatment indicators of clinical impact, feasibility, and acceptability were examined; three cases illustrate the delivery of the clinical materials. Small-to-large effects for anxiety and PTSD outcomes and small effects for alcohol outcomes were observed. Bridging the Gap can support providers in delivering key elements of transdiagnostic care.
Anxiety disorders are prevalent in autistic adolescents, yet barriers to treatment access exist. The current article describes (a) the development of an internet-delivered, therapist-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy protocol adapted for autistic adolescents with co-occurring anxiety and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder and (b) preliminary feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness data. Ten autistic adolescents between the ages of 11 and 17 were enrolled. Based on qualitative feedback and quantitative data (i.e., program usage, completion, and satisfaction), the intervention demonstrated strong acceptability and feasibility. Among the eight participants who completed treatment, there were statistically significant reductions in clinician- and parent-rated anxiety symptoms, but not child-rated anxiety symptoms. Posttreatment response and remission rates were 37.5% and 25%, respectively. Further evaluation in a randomized controlled trial is warranted.
